There is no need to uninstall the trial before installing the boxed version. Just insert the DVD & install. It will convert the trial to the licensed version. If you're only wanting the boxed version to have a backup handy, you could just burn the trial to a CD (it's small enough for a CD) keep the serial number somewhere safe (although it will be available through your Apple Store online account).

There is no need to uninstall the trial before installing the boxed version. Just insert the DVD & install. It will convert the trial to the licensed version. If you're only wanting the boxed version to have a backup handy, you could just burn the trial to a CD (it's small enough for a CD) keep the serial number somewhere safe (although it will be available through your Apple Store online account).

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Very true! Good point about the backup and the online store account. The only thing I would be missing then is the cute little box that iWork '09 comes in

I will probably get the boxed version then. I wonder what the advantage of the serial number method is then, other than the have it immediately type of thing???

Also, to uninstall the trial version, what is the process? Do I just drag Pages, Numbers and Keynote to the trash and that is it?

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If Peggy is right about the serial number being useable more than once, then there is a definite advantage in the serial number method, as you don't need a backup so long as Apple keep offering the trial. With the boxed version, if you lose the disc or break it, that's it, you have to get another copy. With the serial, you can just download another one and activate it.

Again, I don't know the activation method - it's possible it calls home with the serial number and can only be used once, which makes the serial number version vastly inferior.

Buy the box! That's my suggestion, only because I see some sort of value in owning the physical media. A poster above pointed out the valid objection of the consumption of resources, so that's something to consider in favor of just getting a serial number. I guess it is going to depend on your priorities and whether you want/need the disc.

iWork 09 from the box has no serial number. Have none of you bothered to check?

Surely when you installed the software you did notice not putting in a serial number?

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The online version requires a serial. Whether this just checks itself (probably) or calls home (unlikely) is the question. Because if it just checks itself, wouldn't the online version be better, because you can't lose the disc?

If Peggy is right about the serial number being useable more than once, then there is a definite advantage in the serial number method, as you don't need a backup so long as Apple keep offering the trial. With the boxed version, if you lose the disc or break it, that's it, you have to get another copy. With the serial, you can just download another one and activate it.

Again, I don't know the activation method - it's possible it calls home with the serial number and can only be used once, which makes the serial number version vastly inferior.

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I got a new MacBook Pro yesterday & used the Migration Assistant to move all my settings, documents & applications. The first time I launched Pages it asked me to send my registration to Apple. I don't know what would have happened if I didn't have the family pack & didn't have an available license to use. I was told by a trainer at an Apple Store that Apple does now use some kind of tracking of the MAC address & IP address, although I'm not sure how IP address tracking would work since most home users have dynamic IP addressing.

I got a new MacBook Pro yesterday & used the Migration Assistant to move all my settings, documents & applications. The first time I launched Pages it asked me to send my registration to Apple. I don't know what would have happened if I didn't have the family pack & didn't have an available license to use. I was told by a trainer at an Apple Store that Apple does now use some kind of tracking of the MAC address & IP address, although I'm not sure how IP address tracking would work since most home users have dynamic IP addressing.

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Furthermore - what happens if you need to reinstall from a trial version? Will it accept your serial again? I suppose if it does have mac address tracking - but that's kinda weird...

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